Altair Signs Agreement to Acquire Metrics Design Automation Inc. Expands Footprint in EDA Industry
Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a leader in computational intelligence, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Metrics Design Automation Inc., a Canadian company specializing in semiconductor electronic functional simulation and design verification. Metrics' flagship product, DSim, offers a simulation as a service (SaaS) model that enhances accessibility and affordability in the IC design verification process. The acquisition aims to combine DSim with Altair's Silicon Debug Tools to create a superior simulation environment. This new solution will be available through Altair One and supports running simulations on desktops, servers, or the cloud.
- The acquisition of Metrics Design Automation Inc. has the potential to expand Altair’s footprint in the EDA industry, particularly with its innovative SaaS model for IC design verification.
- Combining DSim with Altair's Silicon Debug Tools will provide a world-class simulation environment, enhancing the company's product offerings.
- The new solution can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with the traditional IC design cycle, making EDA tools more accessible and affordable.
- DSim's cloud-native and flexible deployment options (desktop, server, or cloud) offer customers more choice in design verification tools.
- The partnership brings in Joe Costello, a notable figure in the EDA industry, which could potentially elevate Altair's market position and credibility.
- The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, which could delay or impact the merger.
Insights
Altair's acquisition of Metrics Design Automation Inc. signifies a strategic expansion into the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry, a sector characterized by high licensing costs and a need for advanced simulation technologies. From a
The EDA market is projected to grow significantly over the next few years, driven by the increasing complexity of semiconductor designs. This acquisition positions Altair to capture a larger share of this market by offering a unique, cloud-based simulation tool. The flexibility of Metrics' SaaS model can potentially reduce operational costs for customers, making it a disruptive force in the industry.
Moreover, Altair’s ability to offer DSim through its Altair One platform adds another layer of value, providing a seamless integration of services and enhancing customer retention. Investors should monitor how quickly Altair can integrate these new capabilities and the subsequent impact on their overall financial performance.
The acquisition of Metrics Design Automation by Altair introduces a transformative innovation in the form of DSim, a cloud-based EDA simulation tool. This technology addresses a major pain point in IC design verification, which traditionally involves high licensing costs and the need for extensive computational resources.
DSim's unique value proposition lies in its flexibility and scalability. By enabling simulations to run on desktop, on-premises servers, or in the cloud, it offers an unprecedented level of adaptability to various operational environments. This is a game-changer for semiconductor companies that require high-volume simulations without the need to invest in extensive hardware infrastructure.
Furthermore, DSim’s support for both System Verilog and VHDL RTL broadens its applicability, making it suitable for a wide range of digital circuits, including ASICs and FPGAs. This expansion of capabilities not only enhances Altair's product portfolio but also positions it as a more versatile player in the semiconductor industry.
The acquisition is strategically significant for Altair as it taps into the growing demand for cloud-based EDA solutions. The traditional EDA tools, which are not typically cloud-native, present a gap in the market for flexible, scalable solutions. DSim fills this gap by providing a cloud-enabled option that can be scaled according to demand, thus optimizing operational costs for end-users.
From a market perspective, the integration of DSim into Altair’s offerings could drive market penetration in industries like semiconductors, automotive, aerospace and defense. These industries are increasingly reliant on digital simulation for design verification and a cost-effective, scalable solution like DSim can significantly reduce time-to-market for complex devices.
Altair’s decision to acquire a pioneering company like Metrics indicates a forward-thinking approach to market trends and customer needs. This positions Altair not only as a software provider but also as a strategic partner in the innovation ecosystem of high-stakes industries. The market is likely to respond positively to this acquisition, given the clear value proposition it offers.
Flagship product, DSim, is the first-of-its-kind EDA simulation as a service solution
The Metrics digital simulator, DSim, when combined with Altair's Silicon Debug Tools, will deliver a world-class, advanced simulation environment with superior simulation and debug capabilities in the EDA and semiconductor space. The cloud-based business model has the potential to transform the semiconductor space by making high caliber EDA design tools much more affordable and accessible for companies looking to aggressively scale out simulations to accelerate design cycles.
Today, integrated circuit (IC) design verification has high licensing costs and may require hundreds and sometimes thousands of seats to run a single chip simulation. Additionally, these tools run on desktop machines, and are not typically cloud-native or cloud-enabled. The Altair and Metrics solution delivers the flexibility to run as a desktop app, on your own servers, or in the cloud and can run very large regressions with the customer paying only for what they use. It supports System Verilog and VHDL RTL for digital circuits targeting application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Because of this, simulations can be run concurrently and at scale, removing massive amounts of time and costs from the traditional design cycle.
"By combining our best-in-class software with Metrics' cloud-based simulation as a service, we are excited to bring this groundbreaking technology to our EDA and semiconductor customers," said James R. Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair. "Altair is unique in our ability to merge simulation with industry-leading workload and workflow optimization technology, serving as a true partner for companies embracing innovative tools and resource delivery models in this highly specialized and high-stakes industry. Customers now have a choice in design verification."
DSim will be available through Altair One, Altair's cloud innovation gateway, where it will also be available for desktop download. Whether in the cloud, on your own servers, or on the desktop, DSim is fully featured and optimized for speed, capacity and accuracy, providing semiconductor, automotive, aerospace and defense customers with Altair's leading digital simulation, visualization, and circuit debug technology, so they can quickly track down design problems and move the most complex devices into production earlier and with a higher degree of confidence.
"We are proud to be first-to-market with our game-changing design verification product and business model for the semiconductor industry," said Joe Costello, executive chairman, Metrics. "Joining Altair will allow us to grow and provide an alternative option – whether on desktop, on your own servers, or in the cloud – to engineers looking for a flexible, modern, accurate, and fast design verification solution that is truly scalable."
Metrics is led by Joe Costello, who is considered one of the founders of the modern EDA industry when he became President of Cadence Design Systems and drove annual revenues to over
About Altair
Altair is a global leader in computational intelligence that provides software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and AI. Altair enables organizations across all industries to compete more effectively and drive smarter decisions in an increasingly connected world – all while creating a greener, more sustainable future. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.
Media contacts | ||
Altair Corporate | Altair Investor Relations | |
Bridget Hagan | Stephen Palmtag | |
+1.216.769.2658 | +1 212.871.3927 | |
Altair | ||
Charlotte Hartmann | ||
+49 7031 6208 0 | ||
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/altair-signs-agreement-to-acquire-metrics-design-automation-inc-expands-footprint-in-eda-industry-302186503.html
SOURCE Altair
FAQ
What company did Altair acquire?
What is the flagship product of Metrics Design Automation Inc.?
When was the acquisition agreement announced?
How will the acquisition impact Altair's product offerings?
What deployment options does DSim offer?
What are some industries that will benefit from the Altair and Metrics solution?
Why is the cloud-based business model significant for the semiconductor industry?
